Emma Strock brings wit and wisdom far beyond her years to Offstage in The Maids.

NAMEEmma Strock

AGE16

What is your favorite thing about your character?My favorite thing about Claire is probably her sense of imagination. I realized she doesn't really have a defined identity because she's always trying to be someone else. She's always been under extremely controlling circumstances; she doesn't know how to be a relaxed person, so she turns everything into a show, a spectacle. It's kind of sad... I also love sketch comedy and have alter-ego characters that I pretend to be sometimes, so in that way I'm similar to her - but sane! It's fun to be playing her. It is serious acting, and it's also fun acting.

What is this play about from the perspective of your character?That is a really hard question. I think the show is about Claire trying to please her sister, trying to get acceptance from her by helping her fulfill her fantasies. Solange clearly doesn't like Claire, and Claire wants nothing more than to please Solange, so by helping Solange commit this murder she has a chance to gain respect. Poor little Claire...

If you had some advice to offer your character what would it be?Just be you, Claire! Claire has just got to do Claire. No... Stop hanging out with your sister! Go out and make some new friends who don't want to kill you.

What drew you to this play?Getting to work with Stephen again! I'm also at a point in my life where I'm learning a lot about the way people are with each other, and the way they connect with their situation... so it helped me develop as a young person, as an actor... It's cool - that's such a teenager thing to say - it is a fascinating learning experience, it helps me further understand why humans are the way they are.

How did you get involved with Offstage?Stephen got me involved because he did the show! And then offstage was like, hey, you're one of us now, and I say - Thanks Offstage!

What is the most challenging thing about performing in a site-specific environment?The most challenging thing is not being afraid of the rest of the house because we're acting like this is the house of a murderer and the house is creepy. It is tough to go into parts and not feel like there's a murderer there. We've made it a scary, scary place.

What is your favorite food?Spaghetti. I love Spaghetti. I wish i could move to Italy and eat spaghetti all the time.

What is you dream for the future?I am going to be on SNL, and with all my money I'm going to save the world.

What is your favorite way to unwind after playing a difficult scene?Ugh, magic tricks, featuring Stephen. And... snacks.

Come see Emma play Claire in The Maids, June 9 - 11 and 16-18 at 8:30pm.

Tickets $15 each, by reservation only.

All performances will take place at the historic McShane House, 209 Maury Ave., Charlottesville, VA.

Megan Hillary not only performs as Madame in The Maids, she also dressed the performance area of this extraordinary site-specific location.

Name: Megan Hillary

Age: 39

What is your favorite thing about your character (Madame)?

Her poise, obviously. She's wonderfully refined.

What is this play about from the perspective of your character?

My overwhelming emotions over the unfortunate circumstances concerning my lover. He's such a magnificent man, and truly doesn't deserve what's being done to him. What will these rumors do to his future social position, and what will that mean for me?

What is this play about from the perspective of your role as scenic designer?

Inhabiting an incredibly powerful room, one which holds sway over the execution of daily routines, and one which also quietly bears witness to the private explosions of its people wrestling with the responsibilities and consequences of their assigned stations.

If you had some advice to offer your character what would it be?

You can do better. Seriously, expect more of yourself.

What drew you to this play?

I fear I have a penchant for dark, edgy plays. I'm drawn to plays that require a bit of discomfort in the audience, that provoke unexpected thought. Such plays are always a challenge for their directors and actors, and challenges are always more than welcome.

How did you get involved with Offstage?

Stephen and I were in search of both a performance space and other creatives who may want to join forces with our intention. In came Offstage and the marvelous Bree.

What is the most challenging thing about designing in a site-specific environment?

In the specific case of this particular play, making the room appear inhabited. As it's not ours, we're not permitted to alter things like the color of the walls -- which I would kill to do. So the challenge becomes acquiring all the things that people surround themselves with in order to feel nested, and then endeavor to tie all of those things together so one doesn't feel as though they're sitting in an abandoned, lonely room with a few desolate, discarded objects. The room needs must be imbued with life, so even in the absence of its residents, an audience can look upon it and say, "Yes, someone lives here, and they have for some time.”

What is your favorite food?

Morsel Compass, a food truck, makes these astonishing, multi-leveled nachos with handmade tortillas, and they are a thing of divinity

What is your dream for the future?

Limitless art funding would be nice.

What is your favorite thing about 1930's France?

The art, undoubtedly. The World Fair was in Paris in 1937, where Picasso presented Guernica. Surrealism had been largely dominating artistic circles and was unintentionally making way for the massive surge of modernist painting coming on its heels. 1930s French fashion is fantastic fun, as well.

Come see Megan play Madame in The Maids, June 9 - 11 and 16-18 at 8:30pm.

Tickets $15 each, by reservation only.

All performances will take place at the historic McShane House, 209 Maury Ave., Charlottesville, VA.

Arrietta van der Voort will perform in The Maids, opening May 9th in Charlottesville, VA

Name: Arrietta van der VoortAge: 19

What is your favorite thing about your character?

I really enjoy playing this character (Solange) because she makes sense. She's often really terrible, but you can always find her motivations and the reasons she's become the way she is. I guess that's more of a compliment to Genet than anything else! She's also very, very smart, which is always fun to play on stage.

What is this play about from the perspective of your character?

From Solange's perspective, this play is about taking power from those she feels have hurt her, and maintaining that power by whatever means possible. This is also a play about wanting freedom, but not really being sure what that actually means or entails.

If you had some advice to offer your character what would it be?

Go to therapy!

What drew you to this play?

When I first read it, I was really fascinated by the relationship between the two sisters. I'm a big sister myself, and while I hope I'm nothing like Solange, it's interesting to enact that relationship in an environment that is so strained and claustrophobic. It's also so incredibly layered-- I think we all discover new things each time we speak the words.

How did you get involved with Offstage?

A friend of mine recommended me to the director of this production, I read the script, I got excited, here we are!

What is the most challenging thing about performing in a site-specific environment?

I actually thing performing in a site-specific environment is an advantage for me as an actor because it creates a more real environment than being on a stage with fancy lights does. I guess the real challenge, as with any performance, is forgetting the audience is in Madame's bedroom as well.

What is your favorite food?

Any combination of bread and cheese.

What is you dream for the future?

Free college (before I graduate)!!

What is your favorite way to unwind after playing a difficult scene?

First of all, I try to take a nap before every rehearsal because the show is so intense and also I love sleeping. Then, afterwards, getting some takeout with my roommates and watching some terrible TV (like, Real Housewives terrible) is always a nice way to relax and settle into myself again.

Come see Arrietta play Solange in The Maids, June 9 - 11 and 16-18 at 8:30pm.

Tickets $15 each, by reservation only.

All performances will take place at the historic McShane House, 209 Maury Ave., Charlottesville, VA.

What's this? You missed our 6 Barhoppers performances? You want to see the shows again? Well, you're in luck because many of the folks in our crew have cleared their schedules to present:

The Incomplete BARHOPPERS with Special Guests PayWhatYouCan Bonus Show at the Ix!

Proving that you can't get enough of a fun thing, we are rallying our forces. Most of our actors have cleared their Friday night to present one last round of Barhoppers at our favorite new performance venue -- the Ix Art Park at 522 2nd Street SE in Charlottesville.

Join us on Friday, March 11 for our (admittedly Abridged) Barhoppers -- but don't worry, we'll add some of our funniest friends to the lineup!

We are pretty sure that Joel Jones has written more plays for Barhoppers than any other playwright. And we are grateful for all of them!

Name of playwright: Joel Jones

Current City: Charlottesville, VA

Title of Play: Afterlife

Synopsis of Play: A woman tries to reconcile her relationship with her ex and his new girlfriend, but some ties last forever...

How did you find out about Barhoppers?

I saw the first Barhoppers in the winter of 1990 (I think), and that inspired me to want to be a playwright. I submitted a play called Perfect Guy for the second Barhoppers and have written about a dozen bar plays since.

What inspired you to write this play for Barhoppers?

Someone told me about an agreement they made like the characters in the play and that inspired an improv scene that I did in New York. The play evolved from the scene.

What is your most memorable bar experience?

I remember those nights after closing when a few people would sit in a bar talking until dawn, and that feeling of exhaustion and inspiration the next morning. But that’s material for a different play.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Gin and tonics (Beefeater). Or beer or red wine with a meal.

Tell your life story in 7 words.

Moved back to Charlottesville with new family

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

With Shakespeare to talk shop about play production, or John Locke to talk about the future of the world.

Luke Greenberg takes a class project to the bars with his short comedy "The Divorce"

Name of playwright: Luke Greenberg

Current City: Charlottesville, VA (live in Closter, NJ but attend school in Charlottesville, VA)

Title of Play: The Divorce

Synopsis of Play: After seeing a Broadway show, Jeff decides to test out his acting chops with a monologue that hilariously blurs the line between fiction and reality.

How did you find out about Barhoppers?

I took Doug Grissom’s Playwriting I class last semester and absolutely loved it. He told ourclass about Barhoppers and suggested that I submit.

What inspired you to write this play for Barhoppers?

We were given a prompt in class and the resulting play ended up being my funniest of the semester. When Doug told us about Barhoppers, I realized it could be easily adapted (and made even funnier) if it took place in a bar.

What is your most memorable bar experience?

I’m not sure I could call it memorable, but spending an entire night sake bombing with friends in New York City has been my favorite bar experience thus far.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Beer.

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

I’d love to drink with John Belushi because he’s probably the rowdiest of my favorite actors.

Favorite theatrical experience?

I’m such a huge Larry David fan, so seeing Fish in the Dark was a real treat.

We aren't clowning around when we tell you how much we love Larry's new play "Think for Yourself"

Name of playwright: Larry Goldstein

Current City: Charlottesville

Title of Play: Think For Yourself

Synopsis of Play: As a married couple experience the dissolution of their marriage, a debilitating habit is broken which may give them new life.

How did you find out about Barhoppers?

I've been going to Barhoppers for many years.

What inspired you to write this play for Barhoppers?

Happenstance. I had just written a short play for my acting class and I love to write so when I saw this opportunity it made sense to keep going.

What is your most memorable bar experience?

Serving many shots of whiskey to Washington Redskin football players at a bar in my college town while they were in summer camp and I was trying to save money doing summer work. It was like the bar scene in Star Wars.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Dry Red Wine with the memory of firm grapes and the smell of one cloth diaper in the oaken barrel.

Tell your life story in 7 words.

Baseball adventure love children freedom jnana yoga

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

Adam. Pure unfiltered conversation before the social construction of reality OR why not.

David Lewison brings a little West Coast storytelling to Barhoppers 2016.

Name of playwright: David Lewison

Title of Play: Walking Distance

Synopsis of Play: In a neighborhood bar, a young woman who thinks she’s only out for a good time faces unusual obstacles when she meets a likable man whose interest in her runs deeper than she is expecting…

Current City: Los Angeles

What inspired you to write this play for Barhoppers?

An idle thought that developed into a story

What is your most memorable bar experience?

Was once mugged outside a bar. Going in, not coming out.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Craft beer and single malt whiskey. Not much of a wine drinker.

Tell your life story in 7 words.

Grew up in a California beach town, but everybody assumes I'm from New York (It took fifteen words. Sorry).

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

This is Jessica Moss. We think her play "Caleb and Rita" is utterly charming.

Name of playwright: Jessica Moss

Current City: New York

Title of Play: Caleb and Rita

Synopsis of Play: Terri is meeting Caleb. Andrew is meeting Rita. Or they’re supposed to. Are you…? Oh, sorry. On the internet, and in real life, anyone can be anyone.

How did you find out about Barhoppers?

On a playwriting website.

What is your most memorable bar experience?

I don’t know if bars are really that big a part of my life, honestly, in any kind of memorable way, although I’ve for sure spent my time hanging around in them. But I feel the really good nights never happen at a bar. I like a good dive, though, a dank, dark hole that is eerily quiet.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Different drinks for different reasons.

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

I think it has to be Dorothy Parker, right? How could you not drink with Dorothy Parker?

Favorite theatrical experience?

I saw ‘Brief Encounter’ years ago in New York. It’s a production from an English theatre company called Kneehigh and Roundabout brought it over here. It was so theatrical and fun and magical. It remains the greatest experience I’ve ever had in a theatre and the gold standard for me.

Jack McCleland (Men at Work) discovered Offstage through the NYCPlaywrights Forum. We're so glad he found us!

Name of playwright: Jack McCleland

Title of Play: Men At Work

Current City: New York

Synopsis of Play: Two guys and a bartender watch construction work being done outside of the bar and comment on the quality of the job being done.

What is your most memorable bar experience?

There are so many. One time I went to see Medea on Broadway and Stephen Fry was in the production. I was always a fan of his. My friend and I went to a bar nearby after the performance and after a beer or two Stephen Fry ambled in and my friend, an actor, called him over. Fry came over and we drank and talked. Just a fun time.

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

Yes. Well, that depends. Nothing better than a cold beer on a summer afternoon. Wine just makes food taste better. A whiskey for those serious moments.

Tell your life story in 7 words.

New England to New York writes plays.

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

James Joyce. He liked to drink and told great stories.

Favorite theatrical experience?

I had never been to the theatre other than the usual high school plays. I was out of high school and went to a small coffee house and this particular evening they had a small theatre company perform short pieces. I was knocked out. I never realized how immediate, touching, and fun theatre could be. It stayed with me for years and later inspired me to become a playwright.

What is your favorite quote?

Picasso said, “Critics talk about theme and content, Artists talk about where to get the cheapest turpentine.”

We are so excited to welcome one of Offstage Theatre's founders, Tom Coash, back to the Charlottesville for Barhoppers 2016, opening this month!

Name of playwright: Tom Coash

Current City: New Haven, CT

Title of Play: Raghead

Synopsis of Play: A blind date, a veiled woman, a firefighter. Will sparks fly? Nick, a New York City firefighter, is surprised when Sarah, his blind date shows up wearing an Islamic veil.

How did you find out about Barhoppers?

I was one of the founders of Offstage Theatre and the Barhoppers Series. This will make my sixth play in a Barhoppers. I'm sure Joel (Jones) has me beat though!

What is your most memorable bar experience?

I met my lovely and talented wife, Julie, in a bar. Life is sweet!

Beer, Wine, or Whiskey?

All of the above.

If you could share a drink with any figure from history who would it be and why?

Shakespeare - Get him drunk and steal some ideas!

Favorite theatrical experience?

Wow, so many great ones: my whole five years working with Offstage, the recent premiere of my play Veils at Portland Stage, my intern year at Actors Theater of Louisville, the recent production of my play Cry Havoc in South Africa, teaching playwriting in Egypt, but really my favorite memory in theatre was when Bert couldn't get his underwear and pants on right in the Offstage Bedroom Series...brilliant!